Tokyo Dark: Remembrance (PS4) Review
Release Date: January 10, 2020
Publisher/Developer: Cherrymochi/Mebius
Platform: PlayStation 4 (reviewed), previously on Nintendo Switch, base edition on PC
Price: $19.99
Having been released on PC a couple years ago, Tokyo Dark has had an “upgrade” in the form of Tokyo Dark: Remembrance, released recently on Nintendo Switch and just in 2020 for PlayStation 4. A gripping investigative horror tale is shared through a combination of visual novel and point and click gameplay, with a unique “SPIN” on how the story plays out. Gamers who have played the game on PC may be excited to know that the upgrades provide more branches to the story, whilst new gamers will have plenty of paths to follow depending on how they react to the mysteries Detective Ito must face.
The game opens as Detective Ito faces the mysterious disappearance of her partner. In a seedy part of town, she locates his telephone inside a bloody paper bag filled with foul meats. An eerily familiar voice invites Ito into the sewers and toward unknown terrors.
Ito’s mental status is key in Tokyo Dark. The SPIN system is a series of points that represent Ito’s Sanity, Professionalism, Investigation, and Neurosis. I was surprised at how much the little choices you make effect these numbers. Early on I didn’t know how to back out of an area and ended up talking to a person an extra three or four times. They got annoyed with me, and I saw my neurosis number climb as I kept asking the same questions expecting different results. Soon after I ran across a lock I wanted to get by, with no key. I thought the right answer was to shoot the lock, but suddenly Ito’s Professionalism tanked and Neurosis skyrocketed as she realized that a real private eye could get in big trouble if this was found out. No matter what, the game autosaves at every major decision. In my first few minutes of play I felt like I was way off. I took a drink at a bar and shot a lock off. Suddenly, I ran across a man who noticed the stench of alcohol and was on edge after hearing gunfire. I started a fresh save and played more deliberately, and the same man gave me important information to further my investigation. All of these choices change what Ito sees and leads towards eleven different endings.
Perhaps my biggest complaint about the game is how a point and click style game has a hard time transitioning to controller support. A quick look at the control scheme fixed most of my frustration, but I would have appreciated a pic of the controller on the first loading screen or such. There are simply investigative points where a mouse would do better. I would also have liked multiple save files, but I suppose that is a better decision on a game that tries to force you to deal with the results of every single decision.
Upgrades to the game not only added more endings. According to my research, additional cutscenes were made and graphics were improved. Certain pieces of artwork were cleaned up, and environments were improved to add to the overall atmosphere. I’ve enjoyed my time with the PS4 version, and am torn about suggesting the platform of choice. I love having visual novels on my Switch but the creepy vibe of Tokyo Dark just screams for the big screen and a dark room. Might work curled up under a blanket in your bed, though. The atmosphere has plenty of creepouts, and is definitely mature. Quick flashes of creepy designs effect your personal SPIN meter just as much as Ito’s. I didn’t understand as a particular character is shown in these flashes with a hairstyle notably different than when you meet her for the first time to where I wondered if they were even the same person. In flashes, she has an iconic set of bangs over one eye, whilst her face is completely uncovered in person.
Tokyo Dark: Remembrance may be a rehash of a couple year-old PC game, but the upgrades make it the definitive experience. It’s a wonderful amalgamation of visual novel and point-and-click gameplay that delivers a creepy experience expertly tailored into a unique experience for every player. The decision making even boils down to adding extra neurosis when you take too long or tread over the same spots several times, adding an urgency to the traditional visual novel I wasn’t used to. Tokyo Dark: Remembrance extends the neuroses of the main character into your own mind and drags you into it’s tale, kicking and screaming (or investigating professionally, or twisting into your own insanity) all the way.
Pros:
-SPIN system does a good job of reflecting Ito (and your) mental state
-Visual novel combined with point and click distills the rough parts of both genres and offers the best of both worlds
-Creepy vibe doesn’t rely on jump scares and shock value, creating an atmosphere where you aren’t sure what is going on next
-Upgrades from original version
Cons:
-Point and Click doesn’t translate well to controllers
-Only one save spot (though this benefits the permanence of choices)
-Is truly an expansion of original, less content for fans of previous release
Special thanks to Cherrymochi/Mebius for providing a code for review!